Plumptre , Edward Hayes , 1821-1891 , Dean of Wells

Born, 1821; educated at home; after a brief period studying at King's College London, entered University College Oxford (of which his uncle, Frederick Charles Plumptre, was Master, 1836-1870) as a scholar; took a double first-class in mathematics and classics, 1844; elected to a fellowship at Brasenose; ordained by Bishop Samuel Wilberforce, 1846; MA, 1847; resigned his fellowship on his marriage, 1847; for a period his religious views were influenced by his brother-in-law Frederick Denison Maurice, but later in life he rejected his conclusions; joined the staff of King's College London, where he introduced evening classes; chaplain, 1847-1868; professor of pastoral theology, 1853-1863; professor of exegesis, 1864-1881; took a leading role in promoting the higher education of women, and until 1877 a professor of Queen's College, Harley Street, where he was principal, 1875-1877; assistant preacher at Lincoln's Inn, 1851-1858; prebendary of St. Paul's, 1863; Boyle lecturer, 1866; rector of Pluckley from 1869 and of Bickley from 1873; member of the Old Testament revision committee, 1869-1874; Grinfield lecturer and examiner at Oxford, 1872-1874; resigned his work in London on becoming Dean of Wells, 1881-1891; served not only the cathedral and the Theological College but the city of Wells and its hospital, almshouse and workhouse; died at Wells, 1891; buried in the cathedral cemetery. Publications: contributed to the Cambridge Bible, Speaker's Commentary, and Bible Educator; wrote Christ and Christendom. The Boyle Lectures for 1866 (1867); Biblical Studies (1870); St Paul in Asia (1877); Popular Exposition of the Epistles to the Seven Churches (1877 and 1879); Movements in Religious Thought: Romanism, Protestantism, Agnosticism (1879); Theology and Life (1884); The Spirits in Prison, and other studies on Life after Death (1884 and 1885); Wells Cathedral and its Deans (1888); Life of Bishop Ken (1888). Verse: Lazarus and other poems (1864); Master and Scholar (1866); Things New and Old (1884); several hymns. Translated the plays of Sophocles (1865) and of Æschylus (1868); English version of Dante's work, The Divina Commedia and Canzoniere of Dante Alighieri; with Biographical Introduction, Notes and Essays (volume i, 1886; volume ii, 1887).